Los Angeles Lakers: Giving Kobe Bryant A Rest
On Sunday the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Portland Trail Blazers for the second time in a one-week span. The result was not a surprising one, a 106-94 loss to the team currently sitting in second in the Western Conference, and a fitting sequel to the 98-94 defeat that happened nearly a week earlier up in Portland.
Damian Lillard, the phenomenal point guard for the 30-8 Trail Blazers, scored a combined 73 points in the two games played between these clubs. At times, somewhat ironically, Lillard looked to be a scoring sensation akin to the Lakers’ own Kobe Bryant. The same Bryant who racked up 0 points in those same games in which Damian Lillard was toying with the Los Angeles Laker defense.
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In fact, Kobe Bryant did not register any statistics in the two games against Portland, although he likely would have if he weren’t busy missing his second straight game and third of the last four contests. Unfortunately, this type of scenario now looks like it will become commonplace for Los Angeles Lakers fans, as coach Byron Scott has confessed he may have overworked the 18-year-veteran earlier in the season by pushing his minutes so high.
The idea of sitting Bryant for the remainder of the season has also emerged as a serious possibility.
In theory, resting Kobe Bryant is a great idea, specifically on back-to-backs. He’s having the least efficient season of his career, and has looked miserable at times due to his physical limitations at age 36. Keeping Bryant’s minutes around the 30 mark as opposed to the 36 minutes he was playing earlier this season, as well as cutting some games out of his workload entirely, ultimately should keep Bryant fresh (at least relatively) going forward.
The Miami Heat have implemented this type of strategy with the often-hobbled superstar Dwyane Wade. The Dallas Mavericks have begun to do this on occasion with Dirk Nowitzki. Hell, the San Antonio Spurs are prone to resting anyone at any point if they feel it will help them when they lace up their sneakers come spring time.
The problem for the Los Angeles Lakers? There’s likely nothing to rest Kobe Bryant for over the remainder of his contract. The team he currently leads is buried in the standings, and even considering a complete overhaul as a possibility next season, the Lakers’ designation will likely read “building” rather than “contending.”
As far as Kobe Bryant’s health is concerned, resting on occasion is certainly the right decision. Nobody in the media deserves to question an athlete or organization that is looking out for a player’s health.
The issue I take with the entire Kobe Bryant resting scenario, is that there is no clear endgame.
The Bryant extension was clearly about one thing: entertaining fans during what undoubtedly would be a transition out of hoping to contend towards the building stage that all teams must go through. Kobe Bryant was brought back at such a ridiculous price because he is beloved in the city of Los Angeles, and he can fill up a stadium regardless of his level of play. The contract will pay for itself, and even if someone doesn’t agree with it for basketball reasons (sorry, Laker fans), economically it makes sense.
Now, it seems as though even business-wise it’s becoming a mistake. Bryant won’t fill seats if he’s sitting court-side in a suit. Sitting him out the rest of the season? That would classify the contract as a massive failure, specifically because Kobe Bryant would effectively be missing one-fourth of the contract’s length in one fell swoop. The fact that it’s being acknowledged as a possibility as Bryant continues to rack up the DNP’s is absolutely unnerving.
In the end, the Lakers must make the decision that they feel will be best for Kobe Bryant. It’s unclear how sitting the player for the rest of this campaign will make the final year of his contract that much better. It’s also unclear where Bryant is at, and what his plans are if he is shelved for the remainder of another forgettable season in Los Angeles.
There are plenty of questions in this situation, and it’s time to give the Kobe Bryant narratives a rest until it’s clear what the Los Angeles Lakers expect from their superstar going forward.